Objectives

The aim of this program is to enhance the skills of those involved in conserving this heritage by organizing a training workshop.

It was also intended to improve the management and presentation of the site in order to facilitate its inclusion on UNESCO's World Heritage List. James Island and its associated sites bear witness to the battles waged by European traders from the 15th century onwards to take advantage of the Gambian lands. The fort, built in 1651, played a key role in the slave trade that plagued the region from the 16th to 18th centuries. Its strategic position made it a coveted asset for the French and English, who fought for control for over a century. Destroyed and rebuilt several times, the fort had an eventful history until its partial destruction in 1779 and final abandonment in 1829.

Today, James Island is a major tourist site in The Gambia. It receives over 15,000 visitors a year, mainly Europeans and African-Americans. Linked to this fort are 5 other sites testifying to the long history of Afro-European relations in the region: Fort Bullen, the CFAO building and the Portuguese chapel at Juffureh, the ruins of San Domingo and the 6-gun battery in Banjul.

  • 83 people (NVC professionals and villagers) trained in preventive conservation techniques at several workcamps
  • Numerous conservation and preservation works carried out on the sites (drainage, wall consolidation, capping, bank protection against erosion, etc.).
  • Revised World Heritage nomination file, then inscribed site
  • Management plan. This planning process helped clarify the role of stakeholders and integrate local communities.
  • Extensive historical, technical and iconographic documentation has been accumulated on this site and is still in use today.
  • Enhancement
  • Brochure and 8 postcards on sale
  • Permanent exhibition room in Fort Bullen, Barra
  • Basic tools available on site

Go to the UNESCO James Island page

Partners

UNESCO-CPM, WMF, National council for Arts and Culture (NCAC)